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Bruiser

by Neal Shusterman (Goodreads Author)

4.08 of 5 stars 4.08 · rating details · 5,544 ratings · 1,131 reviews

"There’s a reason why Brewster can’t have friends – why he can’t care about too many people. Because when he cares about you, things start to happen. Impossible things that can’t be explained. I know, because they're happening to me."

When Brontë starts dating Brewster “Bruiser” Rawlins – the guy voted “Most Likely to Get the Death Penalty” her twin brother, Tennyson, isn’t...more

Paperback, 328 pages

Published October 1st 2011 by HarperTeen (first published June 29th 2010)

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Jan 15, 2012 Tanu Das rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: emotional-drama, overrated, short-and-sweet, why-did-i-fall-for-this, ya

That kid is not kidding! I really am confused about what I feel for this novel. I should have loved it. But I didn’t. Do I loathe it? No, not really. Ughhhhhhh!!!!

Why I picked up this book : Bruiser is written by Neal Shusterman. Neal Shusterman wrote Unwind. No further motivation was needed. It is as simple as that!

Bruiser also has a very interesting concept. It’s basically a story about Bruiser, the misunderstood, socially inept, troubled hero. He uncle is abusive, and (SURPRISE!!!) he feel...more

11 likes · like · see review

Jun 27, 2011 Tatiana rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, ya

Brewster (or Bruiser), a 15-year old troubled, withdrawn kid, is in a possession of a special gift/curse - he absorbs physical pain from people he cares about. He can't control this ability, he just takes away the hurts of his friends and family, whenever he is close to them, and experiences it, regardless of if he wants it or not. Bruiser has always tried to not get attached to people, to spare himself unnecessary suffering. His social circle is limited to his abusive uncle and younger brother...more

18 likes · like · see review

Aug 26, 2010 Andrea added it

Shelves: fiction

Told from four points of view, BRUISER was quite the twist on reality, even though it was told so well that it didn't even seem like it should be impossible. After Bronte starts dating the Bruiser, she and her twin brother Tennyson find out there really IS a reason Brewster's had stand-offish and weird down perfectly – odd things happen when he cares about people.

Like UNWIND being more than just a futuristic world, BRUISER was more than a story featuring a boy with an infeasible ability. Defini...more

7 likes · like · see review

Jun 24, 2012 Allyson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I won't pretend I thought Shusterman, the Tim Burton of YA literature, was worth my time before this book. I won't even say that I was so intrigued by the synopsis or the title or the cover art that I paid for it with my own hard earned dollars. All I will say is that my mom told me I would like it and practically put her copy of Bruiser in my hands, and the next day at work I was so incredibly bored I decided to read a few pages.

I got little work done that night.

Bruiser is one of those punch-yo...more

10 likes · like · see review

Jun 07, 2012 Beth rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: teenfic, favorites, paranormal, sequoyah-list-2013

Neal Shusterman is amazing and only accidentally getting carburetor fluid sprayed in my eyes this evening could have made me put it down. And it was more of a "throw it down while screaming" kind of move. But my eyes are feeling better, so I'm about to put the kids to bed so I can get back to the book. I hope I don't go blind.

Not blind! My eyes aren't even damaged! So I finished the book, and it got more and more amazing right up until it was over, and I had to read all the author interview at t...more

2 likes · like · see review

May 19, 2012 Arlene rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2012, young-adult

There’s a small fraction of authors that have left a lasting impression on me with their literary talent that catapults my imagination into unchartered territories. Shusterman is undeniably one of those authors in the top echelon of highly regarded and slightly feared… where I’m concerned at least.

I read his novel Unwind years ago, about the time it first came out, and I can still remember to this day how my imaginary safe place was rocked to its core by a simple and short chapter in that book...more There’s a small fraction of authors that have left a lasting impression on me with their literary talent that catapults my imagination into unchartered territories. Shusterman is undeniably one of those authors in the top echelon of highly regarded and slightly feared… where I’m concerned at least.

I read his novel Unwind years ago, about the time it first came out, and I can still remember to this day how my imaginary safe place was rocked to its core by a simple and short chapter in that book which left me speechless and shocked. Mind you, it wasn’t even his use of words, descriptors, narrative or dialog that drove me to one of my most profound cases of cognitive resistance. He simply gave me a few sparse statements that led my imagination into overdrive.

So even to this day, I approach Shusterman’s books with caution. Yes, he’s capable of truly scaring the holy hale out of me, so when I saw Bruiser on the shelf the illogical side of my brain (view spoiler) led me to pick up this novel and approach it with extreme caution. I think it’s the Roland Chapter that to this day has branded my brain, so my skittishness is definitely warranted.

Well I have to thank Bruiser for making me a little bit braver and a helluva lot more convinced that Shusterman is capable of unbounded twisted. I mean, who in their right mind is capable of creating a character like Bruiser to be a receiver of pain, physical damage and emotional turmoil from those he has the unfortunate opportunity of coming to care about? An evil genius, that’s who!

This book is filled with a ton of “Are you kidding me!” and “Oh! Come on! Cut him a break!” material, and I’m not even including the mental screaming going on in my head. Fine. Fine. Call me mental.

There were parts where I was shouting at the improbability of an eight year old not knowing the consequences of his ignorant decisions, but at the same time, I did like the kid despite is disregard for Bruiser’s broken bones.

I guess this all leaves me wondering… what does Shusterman have against kids? I started wondering that in Unwind, but Bruiser definitely had me considering the fact that he might just like to torture them… in a fictional sense mind you. Well, I met the man and he appears to be grounded, maybe even a bit funny, witty, but underneath all of that, yes I’m creeped to the core to know there’s an element too twisted for words. Holy crap the guy signed my book with “Stay whole.” Who does that?

Overall, that same illogical side of my brain coupled with my morbid curiosity to find out what else Shusterman has up his sleeve, will lead me to grab the first copy of UnWholly when it hits the shelf. I’ll take his twisted and face the consequences thank you very much. That man sure knows how to entertain his audience.
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11 likes · like · see review

May 22, 2012 Maree ♫ Light's Shadow ♪ rated it 3 of 5 stars

Oh. So who thought this was going to be a normal fiction book? *raises hand* I actually like it when books are different from my general expectation. Especially YA books, since they're normally so easy to predict.

So, I like what he did there with Brew and Howl, but seriously, how many teens are going to get that the reference to the poem and his actual thought process are related? I don't want to be giving kids a lack of credit, but it seems like these characters are very literary where the majo...more

4 likes · like · see review

Feb 01, 2011 Danii rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I thought this book was really good i would love to read ot again it toook me a while to finish it but i finally did it. I chose this book because i thought it was reallly intresting and just looking at the cover made me wannna read it. Brusier he was very intresting he was very special and every thought he was a bad person but he really wansnt a bad person just didnt wanna get close to anyone or care about them because he will take away there brusies and he didnt want to have more bruises then...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 05, 2011 Isamlq rated it 3 of 5 stars

A big hulk of a guy… that’s Brewster. The others characters are just as… unique. There are Tennyson and Bronte, so named given their parents’ professions as literature professors. I found all of them, as I said, unique… and their story engaging. Neal Shusterman can do no wrong in my eyes, so, yes, you could say that I am a fan. Unwind got me hooked and I am so glad to have found this.

OK, Enough of the gushing. The plot itself was quite different from the things I had been reading. I was in dire...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 04, 2013 Jill Mccallum rated it 4 of 5 stars

You might have said, at one time or another, that you would take on someone's pain for them because you felt that badly for whatever they were going through. Well, put your money where your mouth is. Bruiser can do just that. Schusterman has done it again. Just like the Unwholly series, you're probably going to think through a lot of hard questions during and after reading. It really made me think about Bruiser's choices: getting close to people and having it literally hurt or stay away and be s...more

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May 19, 2013 Hannah314 rated it 5 of 5 stars

"Bruiser" reaffirms Neal Shusterman's position as one of my favorite authors (second, perhaps, only to Neil, different spelling, last name of Gaiman). In its simple, everyday language and conversational tone, "Bruiser" beautifully illustrates our need to experience the full range of human emotion, good and bad, because that's the only way we can grow and that's part of what makes us human. It also highlights that caring can be painful. I can't help but care about the world and everyone in it, an...more

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May 19, 2013 Bata123 rated it 4 of 5 stars

What is your opinion of the book and why?
The author died a great job drawing the reader in. he supplied many opportunities for the audience to relate to the situations in the book. I found the rising action to be very suspenseful to the climax later in the story. The ending, of Bruiser, was a great way to top off a fantastic book.

How can you currently relate the book to your life?
I can’t personally relate to this book in many ways. Brontë is a good comparison to an average teenager. She isn’t...more

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May 17, 2013 Brooks Cataudella rated it 3 of 5 stars

Bruiser By Neal Shusterman

In my English class, we recently read the book Bruiser by Neal Shusterman as an assignment. We studied it quite in depth. I think by studying this book, I got a better understanding of the underlying meaning of this book.

I thought this was a decent book. I liked the idea of this book. However, some parts were a little cheesy. The author did a pretty good job of keeping the reader’s attention by throwing in unexpected problems in the plot.

I can relate to this book be...more

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May 17, 2013 Jordan rated it 4 of 5 stars

In my English class, we recently read the book Bruiser by Neal Shusterman as an assignment. We studied it quite in depth. I think by studying this book, I got a better understanding of the underlying meaning of this book.
I thought this was a decent book. I liked the idea of this book. However, some parts were a little cheesy. The author did a pretty good job of keeping the reader’s attention by throwing in unexpected problems in the plot.
I can relate to this book because it is about teenage kid...more

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May 16, 2013 Haley Geissler added it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I really really liked this book. I liked the concept of it. It was about a mysterious kid that never had any friends and people called him "bruiser" because he was known as a bully. I want to see what other books Neal Shusterman has written. It was the kind of book that kept you guessing. The only thing that I thought was confusing was the end.
I guess I can relate this book to my life through Bronte because she was always trying to care for people. She was also very thoughtful and nice towards...more

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May 16, 2013 Austin added it

Very good book I think. It was mysterious trying to figure out what is going on with Brewster during the book. Anyone who likes fictional books about super powers or unexplainable gifts would like this book.
I had lots of connections with this book because it is based around teenagers. I’m kind of like Tennyson who likes sports and is curious about stuff he doesn’t know. He wants to do his best at his sport and not let his team down. I go through the same thing every Saturday when I play soccer....more

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May 16, 2013 Nathanielecholschampiondogcatter rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed Bruiser by my main man Neal Shusterman. Mr. Shusterman is a fantastic author with a bunch of great novels! I enjoyed this one because it had a good story, but I did not really like it's climax that much.

Bruiser is an easy to relate to book. There are so many things in it that I can thoroughly relate to. Bruiser gets bullied as a student. Many people have been bullied around me and many people, including me, have stood ideally by. Also, I relate to the fact that all you need is one frie...more

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May 16, 2013 Calebmcarr rated it 2 of 5 stars

Going into Bruiser I didn't have high expectations. I suspected right. Bruiser has the very essence of a young adult novel. The problem? It reads like a young adult wrote it. The book was very blunt and not very smooth. I basically had the entire plot figured out sixty pages in. And dear God, his foreshadowing is the most painfully obvious and revealing thing I have ever read. It wasn't totally bad though...it did a good job at putting me to sleep.
I would not recommend this to a friend. It's...more

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May 15, 2013 Noah Alexander rated it 3 of 5 stars

I thought that this book, Bruiser, was a very enjoyable and well written story. This book tells the story of several events through the minds of four different young characters. It starts out with an intelligent young girl who tries to “fix” a brute like boy who has a lot of secrets. But, what she does not know is that Brewster, also known as the Bruiser, has a magical power of absorbing other people’s pain. While all of the characters slowly discover this power, there are families being broken...more

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May 14, 2013 Rebekah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Bruiser is a fictional novel following the lives of twins Tennyson and Brontë and brothers Brewster and Cody. The story begins when Brontë decides to go on a date with Brewster, nicknamed Bruiser, the school’s “resident creepy dude.”

As Brontë starts to fall in love with Brewster, she learns that he has a secret. Brewster takes away the injuries of people he cares about. Before he began dating Brontë, Brewster had been able to take the pain of only his brother Cody and uncle Hoyt. Things began to...more Bruiser is a fictional novel following the lives of twins Tennyson and Brontë and brothers Brewster and Cody. The story begins when Brontë decides to go on a date with Brewster, nicknamed Bruiser, the school’s “resident creepy dude.”

As Brontë starts to fall in love with Brewster, she learns that he has a secret. Brewster takes away the injuries of people he cares about. Before he began dating Brontë, Brewster had been able to take the pain of only his brother Cody and uncle Hoyt. Things began to change, however, when he started letting other people into his life. He describes the wounds that he took from Brontë and her brother, Tennyson:

"(They) will heal without mystery or magic at the normal
pace of life—in a week, two weeks, three—like the
raw-knuckle scabs of her brother, now mine, too,
like the bruises, breaks, and scrapes, the scars of a
lifelong battle that defines me."

While Brewster is dealing with the repercussions of caring, Tennyson and Brontë are having a crisis of their own. Their parents’ marriage is in jeopardy because of infidelity of both the mother and father. When Brewster has dinner with the family one evening, their father erupts: “Let me tell you about life,” he said. “Life is all about revenge. Getting back at the other guy at all costs; isn’t that right, Lisa? Why don’t you tell everyone about your ‘class’?”

Family life is not great for Brewster and Cody either. They live with Uncle Hoyt, a bitter and cruel man who exploits Brewster’s abilities. When Hoyt dies of a stroke, Brewster and Cody move in with Brontë and Tennyson, who learn that Brewster’s abilities go far deeper than healing physical injuries.

While it has an interesting and exciting story line, the complex relationships and thematic concepts in “Bruiser” make the novel very powerful. I like that the point of view switches between four different people; it gives the reader more perspective and allows him or her to better understand the actions and opinions of the characters. I generally enjoy Neal Shusterman’s books, and “Bruiser” was no exception. I definitely recommend it.(less)

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May 11, 2013 Marissamenge rated it 3 of 5 stars

I thought Bruiser was an enjoyable book to read. It had elements to it that I've never seen before. While reading it when I thought the book couldn't get more interesting, it would come and surprise me, which left me turning pages until the end. It's guaranteed you won't be bored while reading Bruiser.

I can relate to this book because a lot of the situations between Bronte and her brother are the same as the situations between my siblings and me. For example, Bronte's brother Tennyson is very pr...more

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May 08, 2013 Ashleigh rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: wrote-reviews-for

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 08, 2013 Tyler Jent rated it 4 of 5 stars

Im honestly stumped on how i should feel about this book. The book overall had a weird story, It was about a boy named Brew and his strange ability to take peoples emotion and pain and feel it for the person.

I can actually relate to this book alot. Brew kind of reminds me of myself in a way. I would rather help people with there pain than cause it. Also I think the book can relate because of a friend of the family is having problems with his relationship at the moment and it`s not looking good.

T...more

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May 07, 2013 Dejah rated it 4 of 5 stars

I chose this book because I kept seeing it being read around me. I actually checked this book out from the public library but never got around to reading it. Bruiser is about a young teenage boy, Brewster "The Bruiser" Rawlins, his troubled home life, and his special gift/curse. The Bruiser can absorb both physical and mental pain of those he cares about. My favorite quote from this book is “Happiness is not a state of being. Happiness is a vector, it is movement.” I like that quote because to m...more

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May 07, 2013 Hmr28 rated it 4 of 5 stars

SPOILERS AHEAD---

This could have been a 10 star book...really. However, there are two major flaws that pull the book from the realm of the incredible into the just above ordinary.
1)Multiple viewpoints (4)
2)Multiple viewpoints in 1st person (4 multiple viewpoints in 1st person=what the ****)
Because the book is written from these multiple viewpoints every time the character changed I was pulled from my connection with that character, and each time it took a little longer to get back into that char...more

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Apr 30, 2013 Emily rated it 3 of 5 stars

*MINOR SPOILER*

I thought Bruiser was a fine book, not great but not terrible. I thought this for various reasons. My biggest complaint was that Bronte was so naïve when she was trying to get Bruiser to get friends when it was obvious that he would care for them and get extremely hurt. Physically and mentally hurt but only physically to Bronte’s knowledge at the time. It really bothered me that she didn't understand that concept of him getting hurt, because I thought of her as a smart and intell...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Tara rated it 5 of 5 stars

I usually stay away from writing ‘actual’ reviews that involve words instead of just a click of how many stars I think a book is worth. This isn't because I’m particularly lazy, (at least not with loving and talking about and recommending books) but mostly because I don’t think I’ll be able to string the appropriate words together to produce a useful depiction of my POV of a book. So there’s your warning about this review. I still wanted to try and say what I liked about Bruiser.

Firstly, it’s fu...more I usually stay away from writing ‘actual’ reviews that involve words instead of just a click of how many stars I think a book is worth. This isn't because I’m particularly lazy, (at least not with loving and talking about and recommending books) but mostly because I don’t think I’ll be able to string the appropriate words together to produce a useful depiction of my POV of a book. So there’s your warning about this review. I still wanted to try and say what I liked about Bruiser.

Firstly, it’s funny. I actually liked all the characters narration, especially Tennyson’s. Also, I liked that I felt involved in the development of the characters. Like with Tennyson, at first his only objective is to keep his sister away from the likes of the bruiser, the student at school that not only no one wants to socialise with, but who everyone is also pretty terrified of (yeah, even the bullies that make fun of him because what else can a bully do but push his luck). As Tennyson tries different approaches to keep the Bruiser at bay, he starts to see him as more than just a threat to his sister’s safety and as an actual person with maybe some serious issues. His transformation feels natural and we are shown the reasons of why and how it happens. I also liked the fact that even though his character grows, he still has flaws (some that he is aware of and some that he’s not), because after all even though he’s seeing things from a different view point, he’s still a teenager with teenager problems.

I really also loved the Bruiser’s poetic monologues. That being said, I’m glad there weren't much of them. It could get pretty ‘blah’ in the context of a whole books worth. Fortunately, I felt there was enough to keep me wanting to read how Brewster (the bruiser’s actual name) saw his life and the people in it.

I liked the theme of ‘things aren't always what they seem’ running through the book because even though it’s a pretty well used saying and it’s in almost every book (got to keep the reader on their mind-toes and all), it’s still a concept that relates to everyone and everything and it’s also one that’s easy to forget when it comes to reality. We see a person we don’t know all that way and we assume reasons for why they are the way they are. Assumptions are fine because they are only natural, we can’t go through life without them because otherwise we’d be too confused and questioning to get anything done. The problem is when we start to take our assumptions for granted and start thinking of them as fact. The way people see Brewster is as an unknown. It’s not in our nature to just let that be, so people assume what he’s about. I like the fact that even when the characters find out things about Brewster and his life and they think they know what he’s about; they still don’t actually know what he’s about….

Anyway, all in all, couldn't put it down and all that, really interesting read, Loved it!
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Apr 19, 2013 Tara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Bruiser was one of those books that I could not put down. I was glued to it the moment I started it, yet as much as I want to say I couldn’t believe the ending and I loved the surprises, I can’t. This book was amazing in the concepts and the way it made me think. The only problem was the way it was written. The four different voices were confusing and took away from the plot overall. Tennyson was the main voice and it could have been written in his perspective the whole time and it would have be...more Bruiser was one of those books that I could not put down. I was glued to it the moment I started it, yet as much as I want to say I couldn’t believe the ending and I loved the surprises, I can’t. This book was amazing in the concepts and the way it made me think. The only problem was the way it was written. The four different voices were confusing and took away from the plot overall. Tennyson was the main voice and it could have been written in his perspective the whole time and it would have been great.

The four perspectives it was written in were Tennyson, Bronte (Tennyson’s sister and Brewster’s girlfriend), Brewster (the boy with the gift) and Cody (Brewster’s brother). Tennyson was very opinionated and made strong choices. Bronte was also a great character, but you could predict her choices and what she would say. Brewster’s writing was completely different and poetic, but there was only so long you could read that without it getting tiring. Cody was an interesting and loveable character, but he didn’t have a lot of depth – he was just a young kid. Also, Cody’s sections didn’t always have proper words such as when he said “He says that cuza the time I jumped off the roof and broke his arm. Maybe he’s right, though, on accounta I can’t be Plastic Boy since I don’t stretch” (Shusterman 133). This made it harder to read and was unnecessary.

Even though I didn’t like the writing style all that much, I really enjoyed the plot. The idea of living without pain, or having to carry the burden of everyone else’s issues was incredible. It made me see pain and empathy in a completely different light. Brewster’s gift was incredible and unique. It was a new idea which is rare, because most books nowadays are spinoffs of different books.

What really kept me reading was the protagonist. He had so much pain that all you wanted to do was take it all away. It ripped my heart out. There was one point in the book where Brewster explained his pain and you really start to understand him. “For standing between Cody and his pain is my obligation, and standing between my uncle and his pain is my rent, but the pain I coax from Bronte is my joy” (Shusterman 114). I wanted to help him so badly, and wanted to scream at the people in the book for making the wrong decisions. It kept my interest because of the injured life Brewster was living. He suffered so much and no human should ever go through that.

This book explored an entire new topic. What would your life be life if you couldn’t feel pain or any emotion ever again? Even though people wish for lives without pain, the life described by the author of this book was awful. The other characters realized living a life without pain wasn’t what they expected it to be. Of course, one person’s happiness is always at the expense of another’s, and it showed exactly that during this book.

Overall, this book kept me interested for the most part, so it wasn’t awful. I was disappointed with the writing style, but the incredible storyline made up for it. If it was my book to write, I would have loved to have seen more of Tennyson’s point of view. Bruiser kept me busy for one afternoon, but gave me questions for a lifetime. I mean, what would life really be if there was no pain?
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Apr 19, 2013 Whitney rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shusterman has a real talent for asking hard questions and examining touchy issues through his characters. He does this in Unwind too--one of my favorites. In Bruiser, this focus on the characters, which can be both hilarious and a little heart-wrenching, could have been accomplished with or without the multiple perspectives, I think. Although the prose from Brewster is insightful and helps deepen his character even more, Tennyson's voice was my favorite. Shusterman knows what he's doing when he...more

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Apr 19, 2013 Philip rated it 4 of 5 stars

Being tore by others’ pain physically and mentally is a kind of experience that no one wants to have. “Bruiser”, a book that is as twisted as the portrait of the main character. It is a book that will grip you from the beginning to the end of the novel. It was told in four points of view, readers can be led to four completely different scenes of life. However the novel revolves the main character, Brewster(Bruiser), a 15-year old troubled, withdrawn kid to develop. Every plot is about some twist...more

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About Neal Shusterman

Award-winning author Neal Shusterman grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where he began writing at an early age. After spending his junior and senior years of high school at the American School of Mexico City, Neal went on to UC Irvine, where he made his mark on the UCI swim team, and wrote a successful humor column. Within a year of graduating, he had his first book deal, and was hired to write a movi...more Award-winning author Neal Shusterman grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where he began writing at an early age. After spending his junior and senior years of high school at the American School of Mexico City, Neal went on to UC Irvine, where he made his mark on the UCI swim team, and wrote a successful humor column. Within a year of graduating, he had his first book deal, and was hired to write a movie script.

In the years since, Neal has made his mark as a successful novelist, screenwriter, and television writer. As a full-time writer, he claims to be his own hardest task-master, always at work creating new stories to tell. His books have received many awards from organizations such as the International Reading Association, and the American Library Association, as well as garnering a myriad of state and local awards across the country. Neal's talents range from film directing (two short films he directed won him the coveted CINE Golden Eagle Awards) to writing music and stage plays – including book and lyrical contributions to “American Twistory,” which is currently playing in Boston. He has even tried his hand at creating Games, having developed three successful "How to Host a Mystery" game for teens, as well as seven "How to Host a Murder" games.

As a screen and TV writer, Neal has written for the "Goosebumps" and “Animorphs” TV series, and wrote the Disney Channel Original Movie “Pixel Perfect”. Currently Neal is adapting his novel Everlost as a feature film for Universal Studios.

Wherever Neal goes, he quickly earns a reputation as a storyteller and dynamic speaker. Much of his fiction is traceable back to stories he tells to large audiences of children and teenagers -- such as his novel The Eyes of Kid Midas. As a speaker, Neal is in constant demand at schools and conferences. Degrees in both psychology and drama give Neal a unique approach to writing. Neal's novels always deal with topics that appeal to adults as well as teens, weaving true-to-life characters into sensitive and riveting issues, and binding it all together with a unique and entertaining sense of humor.

Of Everlost, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman has reimagined what happens after death and questions power and the meaning of charity. While all this is going on, he has also managed to write a rip-roaring adventure…”

Of What Daddy Did, Voice of Youth Advocates wrote; "This is a compelling, spell-binding story... A stunning novel, impossible to put down once begun.

Of The Schwa Was Here, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman's characters–reminiscent of those crafted by E. L. Konigsburg and Jerry Spinelli–are infused with the kind of controlled, precocious improbability that magically vivifies the finest children's classics.

Of Scorpion Shards, Publisher's Weekly wrote: "Shusterman takes an outlandish comic-book concept, and, through the sheer audacity and breadth of his imagination makes it stunningly believable. A spellbinder."

And of The Eyes of Kid Midas, The Midwest Book Review wrote "This wins our vote as one of the best young-adult titles of the year" and was called "Inspired and hypnotically readable" by School Library Journal.

Neal Shusterman lives in Southern California with his children Brendan, Jarrod, Joelle, and Erin, who are a constant source of inspiration!(less)

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Quotes from Bruiser

“Once in a while our school has half days, and the teachers spend the afternoon 'in service,' which I think must be a group therapy for having to deal with us.” — 61 people liked it

“What's the point of living if you're going to hate the world? Guard your heart if you have to, but don't shut it away.” — 54 people liked it

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Bruiser

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